Press Release - A Celebration of Outstanding Student Achievements

Keppel Care Foundation makes $10M donation to uplift students with exemplary attitude and conduct

Some 430 students were honoured for holistic achievements and excellence in co-curricular activities and technological innovations at the Student Achievers’ Awards Ceremony held at ITE Headquarters this morning. These students are celebrated for their passion, perseverance and positivity, which have pushed them to overcome challenges and rise to the top. They embody strong skills, character and values that ITE aims to nurture in students through a holistic education.

Of these 430 students, 51 received the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) Award – namely, the LKY Model Student/Trainee Award, the LKY Co-Curricular (CCA) Award, and the LKY Technology Award. The other 379 students received the ITE Arts Excellence Award, the ITE Sports Excellence Award, the ITE CCA Medal and the ITE Student Commendation Award. A brief on these Awards can be found in Annex A.

A Natural Leader

A look at Renette Aw’s report card gives no clue about her past. She had a turbulent start to her teenage years and underwent depression. After battling depression for some time, Renette sought professional help. It took inner strength, determination and courage for Renette to recover and become the positive person that she is today.

At ITE, Renette had a fresh start. She took advantage of the opportunities presented to her and proved to be a capable leader in her co-curricular activities. Her penchant for learning led her to participate in competitions and co-develop an award-winning project that can provide data on queues in the canteens through an app.

Renette’s passion and clear sense of purpose has made her the only double LKY award winner at the ceremony. She received the LKY Model Student Award and LKY Technology Award at the ceremony. In total, 10 students received the LKY Model Student Award/Trainee Award for being inspiring role models.

An Environmental Conservationist

Another student, Lau Jia Liang, turned his passion for environmentalism into real work for the community. As the President of the Green Ambassadors Club in ITE, Jia Liang was involved in about 25 activities towards saving the earth, and animal and marine conservation. One of his most memorable experiences was representing Singapore at the ASEAN Plus Three Youth Environment Forum to share Singapore and ITE’s environmental contribution to youth delegates in the region. He also played an important role in mentoring the team that won $10,000 at the Love Your Living Environment Youth Challenge to actualise the idea of having ‘Our Cat Hub’ to provide community cats a place to feed and play in.

For his care for people and the environment, Jia Liang received the Harvard Book Prize Award 2018. He will be receiving the LKY CCA Award to add on to his list of achievements. He is among the 3 LKY CCA Award recipients presented to one student per College.

An Award-Worthy Innovation

Three students - Nur Amira Bte Mohd Daud, Neo Ming Lun and Nur Safif Bin Mohd Rasul - applied their skills and knowledge to develop a Friendly Crutch to enhance the stability and safety for patients. The crutch has a movable handle to help patients stand and sit easily.

The prototype won the Best Project and Best Presenter award at the 3^rd International Convention on Vocational Student’s Innovation Project and MICE Forum held in Thailand. They also won the Silver Award and Best Ergonomic Design Award at the annual Assistive  & Rehabilitation Technologies Student Innovation Challenge (SIC) for Institutes of Higher Learning.

Together with 9 other teams who have displayed the spirit of innovation, they received the LKY Technology Award at the ceremony.

Inaugural Keppel Care Foundation Scholarships

Keppel Care Foundation has made a $10m donation to ITE to establish the Keppel Care Foundation Scholarships and Keppel Merit Awards to provide financial assistance to top- performing students from lower-income families. 3 students received the inaugural Keppel Care Foundation Scholarships at the ceremony. Each scholarship is worth $9,600 annually per student. Keppel Care Foundation will also be awarding the Keppel Merit Awards worth

$3,000 to deserving students each year. Through the scholarship and merit awards, Keppel Care Foundation aims to motivate deserving students to continue to excel in their studies, and make a difference to their lives and future.

Media Contact

For more information and arrangement for media interviews, please contact:

Ms Shalini V Head/Publicity
Tel: 6590 2048 / 9004 0429
Email: Shalini_V@ite.edu.sg ↗ (opens in new tab)

Released on: 14 May 2019

Annex A

Brief on Awards

Lee Kuan Yew Model Student/Trainee Award

The Lee Kuan Yew Model Student/Trainee Award is presented to students and trainees who have performed consistently well in their courses and have displayed outstanding conduct and attitude worthy of emulation by their peers. The Award serves to inspire students and trainees to display exemplary behaviour in training, develop high moral values and show care and concern for others.

Lee Kuan Yew CCA Award

The Lee Kuan Yew CCA Award is presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and organisational skills, and have contributed significantly to the improvement and enhancement of campus life. The Award also serves to give recognition to students who have contributed and achieved excellence in sports, games and the arts.

Lee Kuan Yew Technology Award

The Lee Kuan Yew Technology Award is presented to students who have developed excellent projects that embody quality, technical innovation and creativity. The projects are also expected to have industry applications. The Award serves to inspire students to develop a zeal for challenges, creativity and competition.

ITE Arts Excellence Award

The ITE Arts Excellence Award is awarded to new and on-going students who have displayed outstanding performance in music and the performing arts. Those receiving the Award have participated and won awards in a musical or arts event organised at the national or international level or participated significantly in at least one major ITE production. With the skills they have acquired and the achievements they have made, they are expected to develop and raise the standard of music and the arts in their respective Colleges.

ITE Sports Excellence Award

The ITE Sports Excellence Award is awarded to new and on-going students who have displayed outstanding performance in sports and games. Those receiving the Award have participated and won awards at the national or international level, or represented the College or ITE in a sport/game and won awards. With the skills they have acquired and the achievements they have made, they are expected to develop and raise the standard of sports and games in their respective Colleges.

ITE CCA Medal

The ITE CCA Medal is awarded to outstanding students who have displayed a high level of involvement in their chosen Co-curricular Activities (CCA). Students who are receiving the ITE CCA Medal have excelled in the field of music and the arts, sports and games, contributed significantly in CCA or demonstrated qualities of leadership and organisational ability in major College events.